Overview
- The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority on Tuesday approved continued use of paraquat and diquat with immediate new conditions that cut the maximum application rate to 231 g/ha, ban backpack sprayers, require enclosed mixing and loading, mandate stronger personal protective equipment, and add updated product labels.
- The regulator said its review found the weight of evidence does not show that approved uses increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease, a conclusion Australia’s top neurologists say ignored their concerns.
- Grain Producers Australia and other farming groups welcomed the decision as essential for controlling resistant weeds and maintaining minimum and no‑till systems that conserve soil and moisture.
- Health organisations including Parkinson’s Australia and campaign groups condemned the outcome, warning of ongoing exposure for farm workers and communities and raising questions about enforcement of PPE and the new handling rules.
- The ruling contrasts with bans in roughly 67–70 countries and comes as manufacturers have left the market, so the decision could prompt legal challenges, tighter monitoring, and further policy debate about public health and agricultural practice.